Board approves submission of Act 73 beta self-assessment; first reading of behavioral threat assessment policy cleared
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Summary
Trustees voted to submit the state’s beta governance self-assessment under Act 73 after discussing potential future consequences and approved the first reading of a state-required behavioral threat assessment teams policy; the board plans further review and community engagement on governance goals and timelines.
The Missisquoi Valley School District #89 board voted to authorize the chair to submit the Agency of Education's beta governance self-assessment required under Act 73 and also approved the first reading of a state-mandated behavioral threat assessment teams policy.
Trustee Jay raised concerns about the absence of statutory remedies in the beta testing phase and asked the board to consider how future agency-conducted reviews might be used. "This beta testing phase ... does not contemplate any course of action in the event a school district's governance self evaluation data reveals forcing the district into a larger governance structure," he said, urging care in how the district frames its responses.
Superintendent Julie Regemal explained the process: the district's administrative team and board will complete the rubric as a consensus exercise for submission to the Secretary of Education; the current year is a beta test and the district is not required to submit evidence beyond the survey. After discussion, a board member moved and another seconded a motion authorizing submission; the motion carried by voice vote.
On policy, Regemal introduced the Agency of Education's required behavioral threat assessment policy and indicated that the policy and the larger procedures are posted on the district website; trustees approved the first reading as a procedural step and will consider adoption at the next meeting. Regemal said annual training and compliance reporting to the agency are required.
The board described the Act 73 self-assessment as an opportunity to showcase district strengths while continuing to monitor how state implementation evolves. Members asked for a follow-up discussion, proposed a retreat to study rubric results and recommended making the board's consensus ratings publicly available when appropriate.
The meeting also included routine procedural votes (minutes, warrants) and the formation of a superintendent evaluation committee that will work with the Vermont School Boards Association to complete the superintendent review.
